When I first heard that Leon Jackson won the X Factor (I live in the States, UK readers), I was seriously going WTF. I was actually rooting for Rhydian or Niki, so his win came out of left field, especially with the astronomical success of alum Leona Lewis.
It turns out that my shock was misplaced.
Leon's second single has leaked, and its called "Don't Call This Love". I wasn't familiar with his style from the X Factor, and the only song I've heard from him was the terrible rendition of "When You Believe", so I wasn't sure what to expect. The song is a pleasant surprise to say the least.
Continuing with retro trend of UK pop music, "Don't Call This Love" pulls from the 70s, with its light pop/soul sound. It sounds similar to The Delfonics song "Didn't I", which is a great frame of reference. His voice fits the soul genre pretty well, even surprising me with the richness in tone he possesses. Its quite remarkable how amazing he sounds, since it didn't truly resonate in his first single.
The contrast between the lyrics and the music is very interesting. While it sounds a light, fluffy ballad, the lyrics are about a scorned man dumping his deceitful girlfriend. Leon is very believable singing it, giving the story a deepness that only his and a few other voices could deliver.
It's unfortunate that I have to say I doubt its success in the US (except on the Adult Contemporary market), but its a gorgeous song. I hope it does amazingly in the UK, and maybe, just maybe, it'll catch on here.
Rating: 8/10
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